Ucf Stops Winthrop, 99-91

December 6, 1992|By Russ White of The Sentinel Staff

The University of Central Florida's opening-night, 99-91 victory over Winthrop University on Saturday was a sweet and sour experience.

Each of UCF's starters was in double figures, led by a 25-point effort from junior guard Sinua Phillips. UCF's defense left something to be desired, however. It had too many breakdowns, and a lack of intensity.

Although UCF made 64 percent of its field-goal attempts, it made 40.9 percentage of its free throws.

Coach Joe Dean squirmed on the sideline at the UCF Arena as the Knights missed 11 free throws in the last 1:16.

''I never missed a free throw when I played,'' Dean said, exaggerating to stress his point. ''At least I don't remember missing any. . . . It's all a matter of attitude. Go up there, knowing you were going to be successful.''

A year ago Dean could count the number of victories by his team on his hands - 10, along with 18 defeats.

''This is a program that needs to win and I like that about our first game,'' he said. ''It's going to take more than what we did tonight to keep winning. That's what really concerns me. This game shouldn't have had the tense moments it did. If we just make a reasonable number of those free throws, and we win this one by 20 points.''

UCF made 18 of 44 free throws.

There were so many free throws in the second half that the breaks in play allowed Dean to play his starters almost all the way. Freshman James Harper, the only reserve to play more than eight minutes, scored all the team's points off the bench: six.

''It was like a football game in the second half,'' Dean said. ''Stop and go. Like a football team running a play and going into a huddle. You don't have to substitute much when this happens.''